This weekend has been an interesting one for fans of Batman and the Flash. Rumours first began to circulate that Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who portrayed Batman’s father Thomas Wayne in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, was in talks to return to the role in the upcoming film The Flash which is said to be based on the Flashpoint storyline from the comics in which Thomas is Batman after Bruce was shot dead in the alley instead.
Ever since it was first rumoured that the Flash movie starring Ezra Miller reprising the role from Justice League, fans have been wondering if Morgan would be approached to take on the role of a much rougher and even more violent Batman in the Flashpoint timeline. So this rumour got fans excited and talking. Only for Monday’s announcement to blow the rumour out of the water.
Michael Keaton is reportedly in talks to reprise his role as Bruce Wayne/Batman from 1989’s Batman and 1992’s Batman Returns. This is colossal news and something of a pipe dream come true. For even longer than fans have been asking for Jeffrey Dean Morgan to portray Flashpoint Batman, they’ve been clamouring for a Michael Keaton film where he portrays an older Bruce Wayne in the style of Batman Beyond mentoring the new Batman – Terry McGinnis.
It has been suggested that it’s not a one and done deal either, Keaton is being looked at for a multi-picture deal where he will act as a mentor of kinds to the younger heroes. A potential Batgirl movie has been mentioned as one of the movies he could appear in.
If this is true he’ll be taking on a role similar to that of Nick Fury in the MCU, something which has also been suggested as the way they are looking to reincorporate Superman into the DCEU.
So, it looks like Keaton will be the DCEU’s Batman going forwards playing a role in the semi-integrated universe that Warner Bros. has going at the moment, replacing Ben Affleck’s Dark Knight.
Supposedly Warner Bros. still sees Robert Pattinson’s Caped Crusader as the future of the Batman franchise but Keaton is here to stay. Vague details have emerged about how Keaton will return and we don’t know where exactly Pattinson’s Batman fits into all this (if at all).
The Flash is said to revolve around the multiverse and his journey back in time to save his mother. When Barry is successful the universe will be rewritten and Bruce Wayne aka Batman will be the defender of the new reality.
There are also rumours suggesting this will be the same Batman from the Burtonverse (ignoring the events of Batman Forever and Batman & Robin), addressing what Bruce has been up to in the past 30 years meaning the Burtonverse and DC Extended Universe will collide.
More information will undoubtedly be revealed during DC’s FanDome event this August. Are you excited for Keaton to return? Would you have preferred to see Jeffrey Dean Morgan get a turn in the cowl? Let us know below.
The Flash is speeding into theatres in June, 2022 with Andy Muschietti (It) at the helm, shooting a script by Christina Hodson with Ezra Miller reprising his role as the Scarlet Speedster.
